The look on Kaely’s face made Noah catch his breath. “I’ll tell him to leave,” he said.
“No. Remember, it was Richard who said Jason was angry with me. I can’t trust that’s true now.” She nodded at the nurse. “Would you let him in, please?”
The nurse turned and walked out the door. Kaely looked back and forth between Noah and Alex. “Don’t go, okay?”
“We won’t,” Alex said.
When the door opened again, Noah turned to see a man with reddish blond hair and dark eyes like his sister. Noah recognized him from his driver’s license photo. He was dressed in jeans, boots, and a leather coat.
“Jessie?” he said when he saw Kaely. “Is that you?”
He didn’t seem threatening at all. In fact, he seemed emotional.
“Jason?”
Was the quaver in Kaely’s voice fear, or was she glad to see her brother?
“Hi, Jessie.” As Jason neared the bed, Alex stepped closer to Kaely. Despite his injuries, Noah was ready to jump up and tackle Jason if he made one wrong move.
“Are you okay?” Jason asked.
“I’m fine. I’ll be out of here soon.”
Kaely’s eyes filled with tears, and she held out her hand. Jason grabbed it. “I read you were being stalked by a serial killer. I had to come and make sure you were safe.”
“You left Durango two weeks ago,” Noah said. “The story only came out last week.”
Jason’s eyebrows shot up. “You’ve been tracking me?”
“Don’t get angry, Jason,” Kaely said. “Richard tried to convince me you were the man we were looking for.”
“Richard?” Jason looked puzzled. “Why would he do that? I haven’t talked to him since we left Des Moines.”
Kaely nodded. “I realize that now, but we had to find you. Had to know for certain you weren’t our UNSUB.”
Jason finally smiled. “I like it when you talk FBI.”
Kaely laughed.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Noah said, unwilling to trust Jason yet.
“I left two weeks ago because I went to see our mother. I had something to tell her.” He smiled at Kaely. “I met someone, sis. A wonderful woman.” He paused a moment. “A Christian. To say my life has changed is an understatement. I go to church now, and . . . I’m getting married. I want to introduce Audrey to my family, but first I need to make sure I still have one.”
“Oh, Jason. I’ve prayed and prayed for you. And of course you have me. You always did. You always will.”
Jason leaned in closer to his sister. “You prayed? My logical, analytical sister prays?”
Kaely smiled. “Yeah, your logical, analytical sister figured out that God made sense. Seems we’ve been traveling a similar path.”
“Wow.” Jason shook his head slowly. “I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am constantly amazed by what God can do.”
“Like healing a family,” Alex said quietly.
“Yes,” Kaely repeated. “Like healing a family.”
Jason took his hand from Kaely’s and held it out to Alex. “Jason Oliphant.”
“Glad to meet you, Jason. I’m Alex Cartwright. I used to work with your sister. Now we’re just very good friends.”
“I’m sorry,” Kaely said. “I’m so happy to see you I’ve completely forgotten my manners.” She gestured toward Noah. “And this is Noah Hunter, a fellow agent. We worked The Elephant case together.”
“Looks like you didn’t make it out unscathed,” Jason said as he approached Noah with his hand out.
“Just a temporary inconvenience,” Noah said. “Worth it to stop a murderer.”
“And who did your killer turn out to be?” Jason asked.
Noah shook Jason’s hand and cast a quick look at Kaely. Shouldn’t she be the one to tell her brother the truth about their old family friend?
“Jason,” she said softly. “It was Richard.”
Jason turned pale. “Richard? How can that be?”
“It’s a long story better kept for another time.” Kaely frowned at him. “How long will you be in town?”
“I can stay for a while.” Although it was clear the news about Richard had shaken him, Jason took his sister’s hand again. “The whole week . . . if you want me to. I just bought the auto detail shop where I’ve been working, so I don’t really need permission to take time off. I should get back sometime next week though. Have to make sure things don’t fall apart while I’m gone.”
Tears sprung to Kaely’s eyes. “Oh, Jason. I would love to spend time with you. Where are you staying?”
“A hotel downtown.”
“You could stay with me. Sleep on my couch.”
Jason grinned. “Now that beats anything the Marriott can offer. I’d be thrilled to bunk at your place.”
“Good.” Kaely looked at Alex and Noah. “I should be out of here by tomorrow. Let’s all have dinner together.”
“I can’t, Kaely,” Alex said. “I’m leaving this afternoon for Detroit. I need to officially resign and pack for the Philippines.” He walked to the other side of the bed and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. “In fact, I need to get going. I’ll miss you, but I’ll keep in touch. Just don’t get in trouble and make me come back.”
Tears washed down Kaely’s face as she gazed at Alex. “I’ll do my best,” she said softly.
Alex took a step back. “Noah, why don’t you walk me out? Or I’ll walk. You roll.”
“Funny,” Noah said. “Sure.” He nodded at Kaely. “Be right back.”
She nodded at him, clearly too emotional to say anything. When Alex reached the door, he hesitated and looked back at Kaely. Noah could see uncertainty in his expression.
“You promised me that if I asked you to leave, you would,” Kaely said gently. “It’s that time. I want you to go.”
Alex nodded and pulled the door open, holding it for Noah so he could navigate his wheelchair through. Noah paused in the hallway as Alex turned around again and smiled at Kaely. “I won’t say what I want to,” Alex said, his voice strained. “But you know.”
“Yeah, I know,” she replied, her voice shaking. “And back atcha.”
Alex let the door close and came out into the hall with Noah. After walking a few yards, he stopped and turned around. “I just wanted to tell you that I feel released to leave because . . . because of you.” He gave Noah a small smile. “I know you’ve got her back. I’m not worried about her anymore.”
“I’m glad,” Noah said. “I . . . I want to ask you something.”
“Why didn’t I die on that swing?”
“Yeah. You shouldn’t have lived. Frankly, it seems almost impossible that you did.”
Alex smiled. “With God nothing is impossible, Noah. He has plans for me. He kept me alive.” He laughed. “I can see you don’t believe that now, but I predict you will someday.”
“Well, I’m not so sure about that, but you never have to be concerned about Kaely. I’ll look after her. Frankly, working with her is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Trust me, I understand.” Alex looked around. He pointed to a nearby waiting room. “Let’s go in there for a few minutes. I want to talk to you about something.”
Noah followed him into the deserted waiting room. Alex sat down in one of the chairs near the door, and Noah pushed his wheelchair next to him. He had half a mind to get out and sit in a regular chair, but his doctor had warned him that his stitches could open up and that would cost him more time in the hospital. Something he certainly didn’t want.
Alex stared at his hands for a while, not saying anything. He was making Noah a little nervous. What was this about?
“I’m going to tell you something,” he said finally. “Something that could cost me my friendship with Kaely if you tell her. But I’m concerned. I think you should know.”
“What are you talking about?” Noah asked.
“Kaely’s technique . . . do you know about it?”
“Yeah.”
The muscles in Alex’s jaw tightened. “She told me the other night that the UNSUBs are starting to talk out of turn. That when she speaks to them, they are answering back. And she hasn’t given them permission.”
Noah was alarmed. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“I don’t think it is. Kaely laughed at me when I told her it worried me. She told me it was just her own subconscious reacting to her . . . process.”
“And you don’t believe that?”
Alex shrugged. “I don’t know what to believe. But here’s something else you should know.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s about Georgie.”
“What about her?” Noah said. “Sounds like she’s the only friend Kaely has left. Except us and Solomon.”
Alex shook his head. “I’m not sure her friendship is beneficial.”
“I don’t get it.”
Alex’s eyes met his. “Noah, Georgie isn’t real. She doesn’t exist.”
Noah could hardly believe his ears. “Isn’t real?” he repeated. “She . . . she made her up?”
“Not completely,” Alex said. “Georgie was Kaely’s best friend when she was a kid. When Ed was arrested, Georgie’s parents wouldn’t let her see Kaely anymore. Kaely said she needed someone to talk to. Someone besides Richard. So she invented Georgie. She was there whenever Kaely wanted someone to talk to.” He shook his head. “Kaely knows she’s not real. She says she’s her other side—her normal side. Bouncing things off her helps Kaely to clear her mind.”
Noah shook his head. “I don’t know. It doesn’t sound . . . healthy.”
“I agree. When I was here, I got her to promise to wean herself off Georgie. But when I left . . .”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing. And don’t ever tell her I told you. But when the day comes that she shares the truth about Georgie—and I’m sure she will—I wanted you to be prepared.” He sighed. “She needs real friends, Noah, not imaginary ones. Invisible UNSUBs shouldn’t be talking back to her. And now she’s lost Richard. I’m worried about her.” He leaned toward Noah. “You have to help her. You have to keep her grounded.”
Noah thought about how much he’d changed in the short time since he’d started working with Kaely. He nodded at Alex. “I will. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe in the field . . . and personally.”
“Just be careful,” Alex said. “Don’t make my mistake. Give her your mind, your loyalty, your life. But keep your heart to yourself. If you don’t . . .”
“I get it,” Noah said, interrupting him. “I’ll be okay.”
“I hope so. Because if you don’t guard your heart, you could get it broken. I should know.” Alex held his hand out and Noah shook it. “Good-bye, Noah.”
“Good-bye, Alex.”
Noah watched as Alex got up and walked down the hall. For some reason, he felt a great sense of relief. He turned his wheelchair around and headed back to Kaely’s hospital room, Alex’s words of warning ringing in his ears. He’d meant his reassurances to Alex, but a voice in his head kept asking him if it was too late to protect his heart from Kaely Quinn.